I loom over him, menacing, showing him that I mean business.
“It was just a job, man…”
“Explain.”
“I don’t know who it was, man. I’m just hired to get things done. I got a text with the address. That’s it.”
“Who?”
“I swear to you, I don’t…” I hit him so hard, his head whiplashes to the side, his whole side deformed with the hit.
“How did he pay you?”
“Crypto, man. He paid in crypto.”
“What was the job?”
“Pick up the girl and bring her to Ironreach.”
“Then what?” I prompt.
“Then…nothing. I drive away. I don’t know what happens after that.”
“LIAR!” I roar. I know with everything in me that he’s lying.
“What. Were. You. Supposed. To Do. To. The. Girl?”
I enunciate my words in case he’s hard of hearing. Or maybe having difficult understanding the question.
The man whimpers. Pathetic.
“I want a name,” I say. “Who ordered the hit?”
He shakes his head frantically. “I swear?—”
I grab his chin and force his head up. “You don’t swear to me. You answer.”
His breathing turns ragged. “I just… I just drive.”
My smile is wide.
“Wrong answer.”
I stand and nod once.
Miguel steps forward and cracks his knuckles. The man’s eyes flick to him—and then the color drains from his face as his bladder gives out. I click my tongue, shaking my head. Boys masquerading as men, all swagger and noise until the momentpressure hits. Then they fold, piss-soaked and trembling, exposed for exactly what they are.
“I meant what I said. There’s only one way out of this for you. What were you paid to do to the girl?”
He shakes his head, and his whole body starts to quake. He doesn’t want to, but he clings to the small chance that maybe, just maybe, there’s hope for him yet.
“Bring her here,” he admits, barely a whisper. “Rape her and dump her body.”
I nod once, my smile cutting tight across my face. This is the truth I needed. The confirmation. The reason he’s sitting here, shaking, instead of already buried.
“But you almost killed her in her apartment,” I remind him.
“Did you see the fight the bitch p…”
